The "WARN notice" filing with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development is required in advance of mass layoffs, and Ocean Spray listed an effective date May 2 for the first possible date of the layoffs.

"As you can imagine, with a project of this magnitude there is a period of transition," Ocean Spray spokeswoman Kellyanne Dignan said in a email this afternoon. "While we will begin a ramp down in Bordentown this spring, we expect some operations to remain through the summer. We remain committed to working with our employees through this transition."

Ocean Spray announced in May 2011 its plans to close its 500,000-square-foot plant on Park Street in Bordentown and move into a new facility Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. At the time, the plant had 250 non-union employees and relocation plans were offered, company officials said.

The Bordentown plant has been operated by Ocean Spray since 1943, though parts of the facility were built in 1890. Company officials cited the challenges of updating the facility in explaining the reasons for the move.